Automatic Transmission Torque Converter problems of the 2006 Chevrolet Impala

Transmission slipping, hard shifts, broken motor mounts. Transmission acts like it's not in gear, doesn't engage until about 2,000 rpm then slams into gear. Also slips when shifting from 1st to 2nd and again when in 4th gear. Transmission failure, the transmission fails to fully engage in to any gear when it is supposed to, it will slip and catch from a stop, the torque converter fails to lock up and all gears slip under moderate to heavy acceleration.

Impala "ss" with only approximately 71,000 miles, major transmission malfunction / failure without any prior warning. Vehicle had only been serviced at gm dealership since purchased, all regular maintenance followed. Transmission slippage combined with harsh shifting, torque converter shudder, grinding noises from gears. Vehicle would alternate between not going forward or, once moving, very difficult to stop vehicle because transmission did not disengage (nearly rear ended other vehicles, had to stand on brake pedal). No warning lights nor dash indicators, but remote diagnostic via onstar confirmed transmission failure and directed for immediate repair. Valve body, pressure regular, all solenoids (rebuild) replaced under gmpp extended warranty coverage. Not even two weeks later, problems returned but worse. Nhtsa campaign # 10021844 and TSB # 070730012c seem to address this issue. Vehicle now at gm dealership being assessed. Onstar diagnostics found no issue. Still no warning indicators, but vehicle have high rpm without any forward motion when accelerator depressed. Rpms would also bounce up and down erratically on highway at steady speed, vibrations and whining noises from transmission. Apparently this is known defect with multiple vehicles equipped with the 4t65-e transmission, but there has never been any recall. Cost of repairs for this between $4,000 and $6,000 if not under warranty. This likely effects hundreds of thousands of gm vehicles covering many model years.

Transmission has been rebuilt once, then subsequently replaced with a remanufactured unit from general motors. This remanufactured transmission is now displaying anomalous behavior. Prior to each failure, the transmission exhibited a variety of incorrect behavior, including rapid torque converter clutch locking and unlocking, slipping and reving from a stop, without the car moving, then suddenly slamming into gear with the car moving away from rest. The most recent issue has been an oscillation on 4-3 downshifts at approximately 60 mph, as well as excessive transmission heat build-up with the torque converter unlocked. The first time the transmission displayed odd behavior, which was torque converter lock and unlock at cruising speeds, dealer drove the car acknowledged the problem, and upon disassembly, found torque converter clutch material in the pan. They rebuilt the transmission with new soft parts and replaced the converter. Vehicle had 59,000 and this was all performed under warranty. About 23,000 miles later, when pulling away from a stop, the engine would rev up momentarily, but the car would not move. It would then slam into gear and move off. Dealer confirmed issue, disassembled, and determined that the torque converter clutch had again failed. Dealer replaced transmission with a remanufactured unit. This was all done under warranty. Vehicle had approximately 86000 miles at this time. Immediately upon receiving car back after replacement of transmission, noted oscillation on 4-3 downshifts, as well as much higher transmission temperatures with converter unlocked (about 40 degrees higher), as well as excessive looseness of the torque converter. Returned to dealer, who claimed all was normal. Since that time, warranty has expired. The oscillation and heat issues have worsened, and the car is now being serviced at an independent shop and having a partial rebuild.

Transmission lunges from a dead stop upon acceleration. Does not move with increased rpms until torque converter bangs. Problem has existed since purchase in 2006 with 11,000 miles. Taken to dealer multiple times with no problem found. Multiple complaints with this per internet search. Chevrolet evidently will not own up to this problem.